FM girls just miss upset of undefeated Panthers

Fort Madison’s Kailyn Guzman slides up to meet Mt. Pleasant’s Elly Manning Monday night at the Baxter Sports Complex for a save late in the first half of the Bloodhounds’ 3-2 loss to the Panther’s. Taylor Crabtree and Claire Pothitakis has Fort Madison’s goals in the loss. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

Posted Monday, April 19, 2021 9:50 pm

BY JOHN BOHNENKAMP
PCC SPORTS

FORT MADISON - It’s about building chemistry.
Fort Madison’s 3-2 overtime loss to Mount Pleasant in Monday’s girls soccer match at the Baxter Sports Complex was the third consecutive loss for the Bloodhounds, but the second by one goal.
It’s why first-year head coach Carrie Burken told her players they were “this close” to putting things together.
“I’ll put it this way — we’ve had three losses this year, all in the (Southeast) conference,” Burken said. “And we had a chance to win every game.”

Fort Madison midfielder Alaina Simpson takes an angle on the ball in the Lady Hounds 3-2 loss to Mt. Pleasant Monday night. Photo by Chuck Vandenberg/PCC

This one was another missed opportunity. The Bloodhounds matched the Panthers with two first-half goals, then neither team scored again until Anna Ostby’s goal with 1:36 left in the first overtime delivered the win for Mount Pleasant.
Fort Madison opened the season with an 8-2 win over Canton. The Bloodhounds lost, 6-2, to Washington in a match in which they twice had leads, then fell 2-1 to Fairfield.
“We are right there,” Burken said. “And Mount Pleasant is at the top of our conference, so obviously we can play with the best.”
Mount Pleasant’s Andrea Lopreato opened the scoring with a goal just 1:06 into the match. Fort Madison tied the match on Taylor Crabtree’s goal with 31:20 to play in the half, then Lopreato scored again less than a minute later. The Bloodhounds tied the game on Claire Pothitakis’ goal with 5:45 left.
The Bloodhounds had several scoring chances in the second half, but failed to convert.
“It’s taken a bit to get this team together,” said Burken, noting the mix of Fort Madison and Holy Trinity players. “Just building the chemistry, and fine-tuning some of those passes as we work together, it’s right there, it really is.
“I think we’re creating so many opportunities on offense, between this game and last game. And it comes with understanding each other’s movements, and it comes with understanding the tendencies of other players. Again, it’s that chemistry, understanding one another. And we’re getting there.”
Fort Madison plays host to Burlington on Thursday.
“It’s coming together,” Burken said. “The good thing is, there’s time to get better.”